Film stills photographer

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Admin under film, filmmaking, Photography

Birthday short film - behind the scenes. The 2 camera men looking at the camera — Birthday film shoot, We Make Films behind the scenes shot showing the 2 camera men. Director Oliver Bury.

What is a stills photographer?

A still photographer creates film stills (unit stills) during a film shoot which document the shoot. These are still or static photographic images, rather than film/moving images.

What did you do in the war Grandad? behind the scenes with the WW2 RAF re-enactors. Director Brendan Pascal Lonergan.

What does a stills photographer do?

A stills photographer creates images that provide behind the scenes coverage on a film/TV shoot. Stills photographers also create images that are specifically intended for use in the marketing and publicity of feature films and TV productions. This includes headshots, images for posters, DVD wraps and social media.

Page 3 girl Peta Todd and lead actor Steve Garry on the London set of Rough and Ready. Hiding from a deluge.

Filming of the London scenes for Rough and Ready by Howitzer Films, with Peta Todd (Page 3 girl, glamour model and charity fundraiser) and co-actor Steve Garry with the camera man. Hiding from the deluge.

Shane Briant (Hammer House of Horrors actor) as The Priest in a promotional shoot for The Second Sight of Father Silas Cooper.

Robert Kenchington as The Devil as The Priest in a promotional shoot for The Second Sight of Father Silas Cooper.

Behind the Scenes shots can cover a wide variety of images.

Crew setting up equipment, the director talking to the actors about their shots. Rehearsal and ‘blocking shots’, where positions and action are practised. Actors being made up. Prop makers at work. Giving a record of the production, and an insider’s view of the film.

Stills photographers also create images that used in the actual production as props.

The Harvey Imperative shoot - day 1 Director Luke Armstrong. The heavies threaten the scientist. — The Harvey Imperative shoot – day 1 Director Luke Armstrong. The heavies threaten the scientist.

The Harvey Imperative shoot - day 2 Director Luke Armstrong. — The Harvey Imperative shoot – day 2 Director Luke Armstrong.

Curtains film shoot Director Nathan Evans

The Curtain Call, Curtains film shoot Director Nathan Evans

Birthday film shoot, We Make Films. Director Oliver Bury discusses the shot with the actors.

Prop shot for the Birthday film shoot, We Make Films. This image was then printed out and framed for use as a prop in the film.

Shooting the flashback scenes at The Golden Pot in Lasham, What did you do in the war Grandad. Director Brendan Pascal Lonergan.

Crew photo, Birthday film shoot, We Make Films

Theatre stills

Similar to a film stills photographer, a theatre stills photographer creates images of the play, the actors and the action. Documenting the rehearsals and providing images for promoting the production.

Wesley Lloyd, Present Laughter, Questors Theatre

Wesley Lloyd, A Bigger Boat rehearsal photo, Questors Theatre

What are the benefits of being a stills photographer?

Actor Ray Bull gets made up for This Old Man. Directed by Brendan Pascal Lonergan.

The benefits of being a stills photographer are that you get to see behind the scenes of how a film or TV production is made. You are legitimately allowed on set and to go where you wouldn’t normally be allowed to go. You learn a lot about how a production is made, you get to interact with the key players such as the director and the actors.

Your work becomes part of the history of that production and your name becomes associated with it. You get to see your work up on the big screen, adverts or online in the promotional material.